The Upbeat Rock Academy Join Switch On

Some of Blackpool’s brightest young musicians are to take to the stage as part of this year’s Illuminations Switch-On celebration.

The Upbeat Rock Academy, which organises rock music tuition for more than 300 students from across the Fylde Coast, will present Blackpool Introduces, an hour-long showcase of local talent ahead of the main Switch-On concert on the night of Friday 30 August.

The young people will be joined by Blackpool-based House of Wingz, an award-winning hip hop dance crew that has already been featured on prime time national television.

The Blackpool Introduces session will be followed by the main event, a two-hour show hosted by Hits Radio breakfast show presenters, Leanne and Joel, and featuring a line-up of some top music talent. The show will culminate in the iconic Switch-On moment when a celebrity will pull the switch to trigger four months of Illuminations.

The celebration, which will be held on the Tower Festival Headland, will once again be freely accessible to the public with no tickets required.

Last year’s event, which marked a return to the outdoors after three years of being staged indoors due to pandemic restrictions, attracted a record crowd of 80,000 on to the seafront to watch Sophie Ellis-Bextor pull the famous switch.

A VisitBlackpool spokesperson said: “We are delighted to be able to see the Blackpool Introduces session return to the Switch-On stage. It gives some of our incredible home-grown talent a glorious opportunity to perform outdoors in front of a huge crowd. We know from past experience it will provide unforgettable memories for these up-and-coming musicians.”

Ian Hooper, who has just launched a live music venue alongside his second Upbeat Rock Academy in Blackpool town centre, said: “What an amazing opportunity for our young people.

“For many of our youngsters this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to perform in front of a festival-size crowd – and in an iconic setting in front of The Blackpool Tower.”

Jonathan Breeze, North West Regional Sales Director for Bauer Media Group, said:  “Our team is really excited about the prospect of delivering this year’s Switch-On celebrations. We are delighted that the event will be opened by local musicians and performers – a fitting start in a resort that has long been the home of entertainment.”

More details on the live entertainment programme and, of course, the identity of who will switch on this year’s Illuminations will be revealed in the coming weeks.

Earlier this year, it was announced that the Illuminations would once again be extended by two months, running nightly until January 5, 2025.

Picture: James Maloney / Lancs Live